Austin was thrown into a key role in the first game of his true freshman season in 2011 at Big Ten foe Iowa, and has not let up since...has logged two exceptional seasons in the secondary, posting double figures in tackles in 11 of his 21 career games...has 186 career tackles, tops among all active players...post-season honors following his freshman season and pre-season nods this year...comes into 2013 as the starter at the "bandit" linebacker position.

AT TECH (IN 2012): Austin was the full-time starter for the Golden Eagles, appearing in 10 games...missed the Murray State game with an injury (who didn't?)...ranked second on the team with 94 total tackles, including 28 unassisted tackles...added 3.5 tackles-for-loss and forced one fumble...grabbed his first career interception in the game at Southeast Missouri...listed third in the OVC in tackles per game...had 11 stops against Norht Greenville...topped his previous career high with 17 tackles against Jacksonville State...had 17 more tackles the very next week agisnt Eastern Kentucky...finished the year with three more double-figure tackle games, getting 10 each against Eastern Illinois, UT Mertin and Austin Peay.

(In 2011): Made an immediate impact for the Golden Eagles as a true freshman, stepping in for injured Marty Jones at Iowa, and proved to be a dominant defender...started every game but the first...totaled 92 tackles to lead the team, including 34 unassisted stops and a team-high 58 helpers...top performance came in the Golden Eagle playoff game against Central Arkansas during which he had career-best 16 total stops...recorded a forced fumble in the OVC title game against APSU on Nov. 19...had four pass breakups on the season...notched double-digit tackles in five of 11 games, including three consecutive double-digit efforts to close out the season...finished the season tied for fifth in the conference with an average of 8.4 tackles per game.

BEFORE TECH: Austin was a three-year starter for seven-time state champion Alcoa High School, capping his final season with all-state honors....two-time all-Blount County pick...all-district in 2010, helping post a 15-0 record and capture the Class 3A state crown in Tucker Stadium...in the 2010 East vs. West High School All-Star game, he was chosen the Defensive MVP after making 19 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, breaking up two passes and intercepting a pass...during the regular season, playing on defense in seven games he had 22 total tackles, four passes defended and one interception, in addition to returning a punt for a touchdown...during the TSSAA playoffs, he added 10 tackles, an interception and three passes defended.

PERSONAL: The son of Jim and Wendy Tallant...birthdate is February 4, 1993...full name is Jacob Austin Tallant...majoring in EXPW/fitness and wellness.